A high-value suspected terrorist linked to Jemaah Islamiyah
was “likely” killed during Sunday’s law enforcement operation in Mamasapano,
Maguindanao, a Palace official has said.
“On Sunday, 25 January 2015, the PNP Special Action Force
(PNP-SAF) conducted a law enforcement operation in Mamasapano, Maguindanao to
arrest a high-value suspected terrorist, Zulkifli bin Hir, also known as
Marwan, who was allegedly a member of the Markaziyah, Jemaah Islamiyah’s
central command,” Communication Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said during a
press briefing in Malacañang on Monday.
“The PNP-SAF performed this mission with courage and
professionalism. Based on latest reports, there is a high likelihood that the
primary target, Marwan, has been neutralized,” Coloma added.
He said President Benigno S. Aquino III has instructed
Interior Secretary Manuel Roxas and Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin to leave
for Cotabato to supervise the ongoing operation, along with Armed Forces of the
Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff General Gregorio Catapang and PNP
officer-in-charge Deputy Director General Leonardo Espina.
Coloma further said that according to the AFP, a ceasefire
was enforced starting 5 p.m. on Sunday.
“By 7 p.m. last night, the AFP had initiated retrieval
operations in coordination with the MILF (Moro Islamic Liberation Front), the
international monitoring team and the Joint Coordinating Committee on the
Cessation of Hostilities. Retrieval operations are still ongoing,” he said.
Coloma noted that the Department of Social Welfare and
Development (DSWD) has been mobilized to give assistance to at least 200
families affected by the ongoing operation in Maguindanao.
In a separate press briefing, the PNP confirmed that some 43
members of the SAF died and 11 were injured during the encounter with members
of the MILF.
The police were in the area to arrest Malaysian terror
suspect, Marwan, and Filipino bomb-making expert, Abdul Bassit Usman, who have
been blamed for terror attacks in Mindanao .
In the same briefing, Secretary Roxas said they would only
confirm Marwan’s death once the DNA results are released.
Media reports have quoted Secretary Gazmin as saying that
Bassir Usman had escaped during Sunday’s operation.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=729322
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.